There have been some peculiar titles for Nintendo's newest console, but Frat Party Games: Beer Pong so far takes the cake. A WiiWare title based on the popular college drinking game, the title generated so much controversy that the developer, JV Games, has now changed the title to the softer, more family friendly Frat Party Games: Pong Toss.

Frat Party Games: Beer Pong was designed to emulate the game we all know and love featuring lots of ping pong balls, various cups of "beverages" and plenty of slurred speech. In reality, the object is to land the ball into one of the cups, thus the opponent must then guzzle the cup's contents (namely beer). The game first became popular back in the 80's and has now become one of the most popular frat party games circulating colleges today.

Now, rather than heading to your local grocery store and picking up a stack of plastic cups and a case of cheap beer, gamers would be able to load up the Nintendo Wii and toss virtual balls using the Wii Remote. Beer Pong contained two modes of play: Tournament mode for one to four players and a Speed Pong mode that allowed up to three players compete at the same time in eliminating all his/her cups. The game also offered three different environments and multiple tabletops.

"Beer Pong is quickly becoming a worldwide sensation, from high-stakes competitions being held here in Las Vegas to more and more establishments creating Beer Pong environments to attract new customers," said JV Games VP Jag Jaeger in the original press release. "Being Beer Pong players ourselves, we realized this is a game niche yet to be filled, and the Wii is the perfect system to replicate the game. We created a very accurate and realistic throw system. No buttons to time your throw with; just hold the Wii Remote like you would a normal ball and throw."

But after Beer Pong's initial announcement, JV Games came under fire from all angles with claims that the company developed an alcoholic-based game for a family-oriented console. The Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB) was also criticized heavily for giving the game a T for Teen rating. The Fairfax County Times reports that a petition to protest the games "T" rating was circulating the Fairfax County, Va. Lisa Lombardozzi, chairman of the Greater Herndon Community Coalition, organized the petition and was concerned that the game encouraged younger kids to mimic the recreational habits of older college students. She also pointed out that you must be over 21 to legally consume alcohol, whereas the age restriction to buy a rated T game is 13 years old.

"Promoting the video game Beer Pong in the Frat Party Games series under a Teen rating ignores the fact that many youth involved in fraternities on college campuses are not of legal drinking age and that youth as young as 13 can purchase the game under this rating," Lombardozzi told the Fairfax County Times. General Arthur T. Dean of the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America came out of the woodwork and slammed the game as well (check out Gamepolitics.com for more ). "Beer pong is an activity that normalizes and encourages heavy binge drinking, shows blatant disregard for the dangers of alcohol poisoning, and can cost lives and result in injury," he said.

Connecticut's Attorney General Richard Blumenthal wasn't happy about Beer Pong either. "The whole basis for the games is heavy alcohol consumption - simply not appropriate for teenagers and deserving more consideration by the Board," Blumenthal said. He claimed that the ESRB made a mistake by labeling Beer Party with its "T" rating, and that Beer Pong glorified alcohol abuse and binge drinking.

Eliot Mizrachi, spokesman for the Entertainment Software Rating Board, fired back and said the board's role is not that of a censor. "Our job is to impartially and consistently label content about which there may be a diversity of views so consumers can make informed choices for themselves and their families," he said. "'Pong Toss' involves nothing more than players tossing virtual ping pong balls into plastic cups, which hardly qualifies it for our most restrictive rating of AO (Adults Only, for 18 years old and older)." Another member of the ESRB backed the board's "T" rating, citing that no one was shown drinking beer in-game, and that alcohol played a minimal role.

Eventually ,Nintendo came down on JV Games demanding that the company change the game's title and some of its content. JV Games VP Jag Jaeger said the game was never about alcohol; it was about the sport that has developer around Beer Pong over the years. "The game never showed any drinking, it never depicted anyone getting drunk,'' he told WCBS. "The thing is, it's becoming a really well-known sport.''

Now, the controversial game sits poised ready for a mid-July release on Nintendo's WiiWare service. Stripped of any alcoholic references, the game dons the new title of Frat Party Games: Pong Toss and currently has an "E" rating. For many, the eventual alterations served as a small triumph. "We stopped this game, but that is only a minor victory if it is followed by others,'' Blumenthal said.

Still, there must be some bitterness over at JV Games. "I think it's kind of funny," JV spokesman Vince Valenci told the Fairfax County Times prior to he developer altering the title of the game. "The game promotes the sport of beer pong. We are not advocating drinking any more than watching cartoons or watching the TV show 'Cheers,' or even going bowling or to a baseball game... if anything, you're going to be drinking less. Because you are too busy playing the game, trying to beat your opponent, to be constantly picking up a beer and drinking it."

Unless you're drinking and playing Frat Party Games: Pong Toss, of course. That's a whole different story.

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